KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—The human rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has referred to as on the Police Commissioner, Dr. Kevin Blake, and “the broader safety equipment” to collaborate with civil society teams to seek out options that stability public security with justice and accountability.
The JFJ was responding to the latest assertion by Blake on the rise in deadly shootings and using body-worn cameras.
Official figures present that there have been over 50 deadly shootings thus far this 12 months by the safety forces, greater than double for the comparative interval final 12 months, and Nationwide Safety Minister Dr. Horace Chang mentioned with the elevated deployment of police personnel to sort out criminals, as soon as there’s a confrontation, there shall be extra shootings.
“Fifty police shootings usually are not sending police on the market chasing down anybody man to shoot down someone. It means the police are ready to interact criminals, and if in case you have extra engagement, you will have extra shootings… In the event that they give up, they may take them to court docket,” Chang informed the ceremony this week for opening a brand new police station in Lacovia, St Elizabeth, southwest of right here, the place Blake mentioned the police wouldn’t be complacent in its efforts to guard communities from criminals.
In its assertion, the JFJ mentioned that it had taken observe of the statements made by Blake, who it mentioned had additionally challenged the human rights group “for its expressed issues associated to the sharp enhance in deadly police shootings.”
The JFJ mentioned it has additionally famous the following public discourse on the problems raised, including, “We reiterate that we make no assertion that these incidents are extrajudicial.
“Nevertheless, amid the growing numbers, a number of discrepancies between eyewitness accounts and official stories are regarding. Physique cameras will assist to handle a few of these discrepancies.”
The JFJ mentioned it “firmly believes that physique cameras will considerably improve transparency and accountability in our crime-fighting efforts.
“We strongly consider that physique cameras not solely serve to guard the rights of residents however can even present proof to exonerate who is likely to be concerned in controversial shootings.”
The human rights group discovered Blake’s assertion that investigations wouldn’t be hindered by an absence of physique cameras “troubling,” including that “physique cameras usually are not a panacea, and their absence may not forestall investigations from going down.”
“Nevertheless, the failure to have video footage from these deadly shootings diminishes the capability of the Unbiased Fee of Investigations (INDECOM) to establish the information.
“INDECOM has additionally referred to as for body-worn cameras, noting that video proof assists in issues being resolved extra shortly.”
JFJ mentioned that it might not shrink back from the “Commissioner’s cost that Jamaicans for Justice is looking for relevance.”
“Although the remark may need been meant in any other case, we take it as a badge of honor. We consider that problems with fairness and transparency are as related in the present day as they had been up to now. If staying abreast of justice-related points is deemed looking for relevance, we’re as responsible as charged.”
